Wednesday 25th June 2008 | www.planetrugby.com
An out-of-form winger, two inexperienced props, a concussed number eight, a recovering flanker and one specialist number thirteen - we present you coach Peter de Villiers' Springbok touring squad for the upcoming Tri-Nations.
Minus three dropped players, the squad is identical to the one announced by De Villiers and his fellow selectors that tackled Wales and Italy over a three-week period in June - but this is where the problem lies.
At first glance, it appears like the same bunch of world champs that swept aside Wales in Bloemfontein, got a fright in Pretoria and struggled past an under-strength Italy outfit in Cape Town.
But before you book an appointment with your optometrist, have a look at the 28-man squad again and see if you can spot anything that could be of a concern for the South Africans preparing to depart Down Under.
There is one, and it should be a big one - while Australian coach Robbie Deans has been sticking with the same combinations in the buildup to the new season, almost 30 players were used in the three matches by De Villiers, who has arguably not yet fielded his strongest team in one match.
The games did achieve the objective of showcasing the depth available, however only time will tell whether he has erred by not playing key combinations together more often.
De Villiers, who had admitted that he did not know which of his three fly-halves to leave behind, will have all three of them (Peter Grant, Butch James, Francois Steyn) in Australasia.
There are also three scrum-halves (Bolla Conradie, Ricky Januarie, Ruan Pienaar), two full-backs (Conrad Jantjes and Percy Montgomery), two centres (Jean de Villiers and Adrian Jacobs) and three wingers (Bryan Habana, Odwa Ndungane and JP Pietersen).
In the Springboks' three Tests played so far this year, a different half-back combination has been used in each of them.
The calls for consistency appear to be muffled unless De Villiers is anticipating a string of injuries by bringing along a back-up half-back duo to accommodate those named on the bench. A bit of OTT (over the top) don't you think?
Before I hear the argument that Steyn - and perhaps Pienaar too - is a utility back, the debate was ended - but not solved - over the weekend when he (Steyn) got his wish and played in the number ten jumper against Italy.
To make an assessment on Steyn after the Test against Italy is a futile exercise. He drifted between the sublime and decidedly ordinary - nothing new there - and this was expected from a player who has never been given an extended run in one position at any stage of his career, outside of the 2007 World Cup.
The same can be said about Pienaar and De Villiers' public opinion that he belongs in the number nine jersey - and not fly-half or full-back where he had occasionally played under the Jake White era. Should Pienaar, who is struggling a wee bit for form, play anywhere else, the Bok coach will ruin the young talent's playing future.
That Pienaar is touring at all is partly due to the absence of Fourie du Preez who is set to make a return to the Bok mix on the home leg of the Tri-Nations.
As for Steyn, there's no denying his talents, and the only way to a fair and accurate judgement on the 21-year-old at fly-half is if he is given an extended run against world class opposition.
But with James all set to call the shots at pivot (and rightly so), De Villiers will be best off using Steyn as a potential solution to the midfield conundrum as he excelled at inside centre alongside his former Sharks team-mate at the World Cup.
Especially considering that six blokes will be pushing for the four available half-back spots in the matchday 22, while only two players are needed by De Villiers to cover the number twelve and thirteen jerseys respectively - an injury to either will be a massive blow.
De Villiers' love affair with Jacobs keeps Gcobani Bobo out of the touring squad all together, and it's fair to say that the latter probably had it coming following a less than impressive showing against the Azzurri. That Jacobs finds himself in the green and gold jersey after several years of absence still boggles the mind - even the man himself admitted to being surprised at his Bok rebirth.
While he is often lauded for his spontaneity on attack, his defensive capabilities have often been called into question and there are those who feel (this writer included) that Jacobs goes missing in action during crunch games.
Jacobs got a 60 per cent pass park in his test against Wales, but an improved performance will be needed against New Zealand and Australia. If the Sharks centre fails to bite, it could prove costly. He was above average in the Super 14 up until the semi-final where he crumbled under pressure, and didn't shine that much on tour where he was mainly used as an impact player - a position De Villiers should be using him in if nothing at all.
The problem for the Boks is that a player like Jacobs might have been able to perform against the weakened Welsh, but has left the new coach going into the much tougher Tri-Nations fixtures with a false impression of what the player can do.
The answer in the midfield is Steyn and De Villiers with the latter at thirteen where he has in fact been performing - only without the number thirteen on his back - very effectively in certain field positions in both the Super 14 and in the Test against Italy.
At wing, JP Pietersen is a somewhat surprise inclusion to say the least.
The World Cup star has suffered a massive dip in form, confidence and everything else that goes with carrying a rugby ball. He was excluded from De Villiers' training and matchday squads and placed on a programme designed to improve his conditioning.
How he could have reached the necessary levels of conditioning in four weeks, given how far off the pace the Springbok coaching staff said he was, is unbelievable.
The Springbok selectors would have been better advised to give him more game time in the Currie Cup with the Sharks where he played last week. Even then his performance was a forgettable one. But it's a start where he could attempt to heal the mental scars of a diabolical 2008 season, and rediscover the form that made him one of the most talked-about players last year.
A two-Test series against the All Blacks is a massive assignment and not one that should be tackled with a wing on the verge of cognitive collapse.
Pietersen aside, how De Villiers can justify Odwa Ndungane's inclusion in the Springbok Tri-Nations squad ahead of Tonderai Chavhanga is perplexing.
If Pietersen carries tackle bags, it means Ndungane will play his first tour match against New Zealand in New Zealand with all of one cap, against a c-grade Italy, to his name. Graham Henry must be salivating at the prospect.
Ndungane was solid without being outstanding throughout the Super 14 and possesses neither the speed nor tactical acumen to pose a serious threat to the All Blacks.
Chavhanga has his limitations, not least of all the ability to kick out of hand in acting as a second full-back. His skill under the high ball and defence came into question in the second Test against Wales, but he was solid in these facets of play in the Super 14. Both Pietersen and Ndungane also have these limitations.
He does, however, possess attributes that neither Pietersen or Ndungane have at present - devastating speed, good anticipation and positional play and a game-breaking ability.
This inclusion of Montgomery and Jantjes speaks for itself, however, I would start with the veteran full-back and bring on Jantjes when Monty starts running out of steam. Or, better yet, why not have them both in the starting line-up with Jantjes on the wing?
Moving on to the forwards, and the All Blacks will be keen to use their powerful scrum with the Springboks having a vulnerable look to their front row after axing experienced prop BJ Botha.
Botha, who has earned seventeen Test caps and who was South Africa's leading tighthead at last year's World Cup before he was injured, is one of the shock omissions made to the pack.
"No, I'm not injured. I was simply not selected. I don't know what the reason is," was Botha's explanation to the media. And quite frankly, we don't know either.
CJ van der Linde and Brian Mujati are the tighthead props selected to tour with Gurthrö Steenkamp and Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira on the loosehead side.
While never quite regaining the form this year that made him one of the most feared scrummagers in 2007, Botha has plenty of experience, something that will be vital against the powerful scrumming unit of the All Blacks. If CJ van der Linde is injured early in the Tri-Nations, the Boks could be in trouble as De Villiers will be duty bound to play Mujati as his next option at number three.
Mujati and "The Beast" were both blooded around the tried and trusted front row forwards against Wales and Italy, and the experiments produced limited success.
The All Blacks, despite having lost powerhouse tighthead Carl Hayman to the northern hemisphere and being without first choice Tony Woodcock for most of their opening three Tests of 2008, dominated both Ireland and England in the scrums.
With the Tri-Nations seeing the return of the ELVs, scrums are set to be a key attacking weapon. If the All Blacks, as expected, can get an edge here the five-metre rule will allow their backs the space to build on their promising displays over the past three weeks.
At least Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield were re-united in the second row quickly enough after the Bloemfontein experiment with Andries Bekker, and the continuity in this area is one aspect where the Boks should have an edge on both New Zealand and Australia.
Big bruiser Danie Rossouw did not make it as a lock forward, and Bekker should have more caps added to his name as back-up to the Matfield/Botha show.
But the absence of a third Springbok hooker is a big surprise than Botha's exclusion among the props.
The reason being that a third hooker is much like a spare wheel. You don't need it until you break down, but then you can't move anywhere until it arrives.
If captain John Smit or back-up hooker Bismarck du Plessis get crocked, De Villiers will be left sending an SOS to the already hard-done by Schalk Brits to board a dreadfully long flight, and expect the jet-lagged Stormers star to turn it on in what will only be his second game in green and gold.
That Du Plessis is the second-choice hooking option is, in my opinion anyway, a big middle finger to Brits' talents. While Smit is Bok leader, he will never be displaced and has earned his jersey and respect by a country mile. Despite Du Plessis' try-scoring heroics against Italy, I'm still yet to be convinced. He's big and strong and can tackle a giant, but his line-out throwing is suspect and has a problem with ill discipline.
As far the back row is concerned, De Villiers has bitten off more than he can chew by opting for a whopping six loose forwards.
To include Ryan Kankowski, Pierre Spies, Luke Watson, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger and Joe Van Niekerk - all possible number eight options who between them will be playing for places in the matchday 22 - is an indulgence.
Sure, it gives the coach some nice options to tinker and play with, but it seems to be an overkill.
Kankowski makes the trip still nursing a sore head suffered against Italy last week in a collision that left him dazed and confused when he woke up in the team's dressing room. To rush him back after such a sickening blow is confusing.
It would have been logical to let him rest in South Africa for the away leg and then, like Du Preez, join the squad in Cape Town for the home leg of the tournament.
Burger has also been included after only 20 minutes game time following a knee injury some eight weeks ago.
Watson will travel on his first Tri-Nations tour as the openside flank back-up. On the evidence of the home Tests, however, it is debatable that Watson is the next best number six to Burger. The former Stormers skipper started well against Wales, but his performances dropped off over the course of the three Tests.
Van Niekerk has come roaring back to life this season and I would have given him the nod ahead of Watson in terms of his experience, form and versatility.
So it's clear that De Villiers has taken some calculated risks and there is no denying that the All Blacks and Wallabies, after losing out at the World Cup last year, will be hungry to make a point against the world champions.
But then again, it's a gamble that could lead to South Africa recording their first victory on New Zealand soil in a decade - whether it pays off or not remains to be seen.
We think this is the best team, or could have been, to make it happen:
PR's choice: 15 Percy Montgomery, 14 Conrad Jantjes, 13 Jean de Villiers, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 BJ Botha, 2 John Smit, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Joe van Niekerk, 20 Bolla Conradie, 21 Peter Grant, 22 Tonderai Chavhanga.
De Villiers' possible choice: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Adi Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 John Smit, 1 Gurthro Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Andries Bekker, 19 Luke Watson, 20 Bolla Conradie, 21 Frans Steyn, 22 Percy Montgomery.
The South Africa squad:
Backs: Bolla Conradie, Jean de Villiers, Peter Grant, Butch James, Conrad Jantjes, Adrian Jacobs, Ricky Januarie, Bryan Habana, Percy Montgomery, Odwa Ndungane, JP Pietersen, Ruan Pienaar, Francois Steyn.
Forwards: Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, Schalk Burger, Bismarck du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski, Tendai Mtawarira, Brian Mujati, Victor Matfield, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, John Smit (c), Gurthrö Steenkamp, CJ van der Linde, Joe van Niekerk, Luke Watson.
By Dave Morris
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